Catch for sliding roofs for motor vehicles



May 20, 1941. w. BAIER ETAL 2,242,844

CATCH FOR SLIDING ROOFS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed April 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

l/n ven l'or a .Bader May 20, 1941. w. BAIER ETAL CATCH FOR SLIDING ROOFS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed April 8, 1939 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /n vehol' gw' 'Euer Affrney llpl Patented May 20, 1941 'einen Wilhelm Baier and Waiter Baier, Stockdcrii, near Munich, Germany Application April 8, 1939, Serial No. 266,828 In Germany May 4, 1938 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a sliding roof for motor vehicles, and more particularly passenger cars, and has for its object to provide improvements in conjunction with the locking and retaining means for a roof of this kind.

It has already been proposed heretofore, by the operation of a handle, -to effect simultaneously the closing of the roof and the locking of the same in position by a braking action taking effect in conjunction with lateral guide rails. The known embodiments, however, are accompanied by the disadvantage that the braking action already enters into full effect before the closing movement has been completed.

In comparison with these known arrangements a substantial improvement is afforded by the invention insofar as upon actuation of the handle at first the catch member is moved into position and the braking action is not initiated until the catch has almost reached the extreme position, being completed simultaneously with or following the closing movement. Preferably the arrangement is such that the handle is turned to the extent of 180 and the braking action is allowed to be effective only over the last 45 thereof, having no effect over the initial distance of 135. The operating member which moves the brake rods is accordingly actuated by means of a lag mechanism, such as notches,

toothed gearing or the like, only `after a certain idle movement. In the case of toothed gearing the teeth can be provided internally or eX- ternally.

The catch member is actuated in the conventional manner by means ci' an eccentric, which is mounted on the spindle of the handle. As operating member for the brake there can be employed a cam having four curves, a basquell disc or the like. The cam or the disc is preferably arranged outside of the range of the catch member, as the operating means are then not obstructed with regard to their height in the head rail by the path of movement of the catch, and all single parts can beproduced solely with consideration to strength and cheap production.

Various embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 being a view of the front beam, partially in section, as seen when seated in the car and looking towards fthe front.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the levers in a different position.

* (Fig. 3).

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the brake drive,

Fig. 5 being an elevational view of Fig. e.

Fig- 6 is a plan view of a still further embodiment, and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate details.

The catch member is designated I. This catch, in the conventional manner, is mounted on an eccentric Il, pivotable about a pin It, and possesses a curved form, so that in co-operation with a suitable aperture or guide opening I1 in the appertaining front iitting of the head rail 9 it performs upon rotation of the eccentric II by means of the handle [i movements to the front and the side.

The handle below the bearing i5 can be rotated to the extent of The extreme positions are represented by an abutment 2Q, which is provided with respect to the catch I on the eccentric I I. The arrangement is such that upon entry into the position of closing the eccentric has exceeded the dead point with respect to its direction of pull and in the closed position is secured automatically. This condition is shown in Fig. 1. In this position the abutment 2t abuts against the catch I at 2l. In the open position (Fig. 3) the abutment 2G is situated behind the projection 22.

An essential feature consists in the fact that during the initial closing movement of the catch I the brake rods 2 still remain in the position of release. The brake rods 2 are guided in the member 9 and are furnished at their free inner ends with rollers 8 which, under the action of springs I4, always bear against the cam 1. The cam 'I and eccentric II with handle E5 are mounted on a base plate 3. The mounting for the cam is rmly connected to a toothed sector It, which can be moved into engagement with a sector I2 of the eccentric l I, which is held by the square pin li. The brake rods 2 are furnished at the outer end with a bearing bracket 23, which consists of strip iron bent in U-form. In the bracket 23 there are guided rods 24 and 25 carrying the actual brake members 26, which under the pressure of the springs 2l, 28 bear against the inner wall of the rail di. The springs 21 and 28 act, however, merely as a buiier in order upon the movement to make allowance more particularly for the form of the cam 7.

The form of the cam 'l is such that in the closed position (Fig. 1) the rollers t are more remote from the stud 5 than in the open position In order that in the closed position,

said to be substantially that of four-leaf clover.V

It will be seen from the drawings that for actuating the braking mechanism merely a rotationY of the cam is necessary amounting to 90, Whereas for the actuation of the locking means a rotation of 180 is required. In consequence there must be a transmission ratio of 1 :2.

If the roof is to be moved out of the open position into the closed position, the handle 6 is turned in the direction of the arrow 29. The two sectors I and i2 do not move into engagement with each other until the eccentric H has been rotated to the extent of 135. The first tooth of the sector l2 then engages with the toothedsector l0 of the cam 1, and in consequence of the transmission ratio of 1:2 the cam l, upon additional rotation of the handle 6 by 45, is rotated by 90, and the rollers 8 accordingly move over the curves into the recesses I3. In this condition not only is the roof secured by the catch, but the head rail 9 is also ibraked automatically.

Upon this movement of 135 the catch i has already been withdrawn to such extent that over nthe remaining 45 it is additionally withdrawn only to the extent of approximately 1 2 mm., since the eccentric passes beyond the dead point so that there will be no automatic release of the fastening means (Fig. l).

In the embodiment according to Figs. 4 and 5 there is connected to the eccentric il a toothed sector I9, which engages at times with a gear wheel 30, which in turn is connected to a disc 3l Disc 3| and gear wheel 353 are mounted on a stud provided in the base plate 3, which latter is integral with the front facing 32. In the plate 3 there is also mounted the handle B. On the disc 3| there are provided in radially opposite positions two studs 33, each of which is engaged by a link 34. This link is connected to a holding eye 35 in association with the brake rods 2.

rPhe gearing i9 connected to the eccentric H is in the form of a sector, in consequence of which upon rotation of the eccentric H by 180 only a vcertain angular distance is transmitted to the disc 3l. In the locking and .braking position shown in Fig. 4 the sector i9 and the gear wheel 30 are in engagement. Upon rotation in the direction 36 the teeth move out of engagement following an angular movement on the part of the disc 3l amounting to approximately 90 and an angular movement on the part of the disc Il amounting to approximately e5 to 60. The brake is accordingly released right at the commencement of the unlocking movement, which is extremely favourable for the manipulation of the roof.

The braking effect is accordingly overcome when the handle 6 has been rotated by merely 90, so that it is simply necessary to press or pull the handle for the purpose of moving the roof, whereupon by a brief return movement of the handle the roof can be rmly braked in any desired intermediate position, and it is impossible forthe same again to slip out of the adjusted position even upon a sudden braking of the vvehicle or under the action of a strong wind.

According to Figs. 6 to 9 the vehicle 38 is furnished with a pressed-in channel 39, which can also be reinforced by a welded-on U-section d0. This channel is covered by a profile rail di, in which there slides the runner 43 of the hoop 9, which runner is faced with leather 42.

At the centre of the head rail there is provided the handle 6, which actuates the brakes assigned on the left and the right to the profile rails l. These brakes consist of a rubber roll @d and brake rod 2.

The rubber roll 43 is held by a guide piece 5, which is mounted to be shiftable on the free end of the rod 2 and is acted upon by a spring @6. This spring e3 has the object of providing a resilient buffer. Another spring lli seeks to draw the brake rods 2 inwards. The brake rods engage by way of links 4T, i8 at 50 and 5I with a toothed sector 49, which is mounted to be rotatable on the stud 52.

`Owing to the arrangement of the stud 52 to the side of the path of movement of the catch i the toothed sectors are not subject to a limitation in height and the teeth can be made sufciently strong. With the sector @9 there cooperates in a certain angular range of oscillation of the handle the sector l@ which is mounted on the stud i5. Above the toothed sector i9 there is provided the eccentric with the catch member.

The new form of locking means takes effect on such lines that in intermediate positions a short angular movement is sufficient for the purpose of iirmly braking the roof and securing it in any desired position towards the front or the rear. If the roof is moved into the closed position the closing movement is practically completed before the brake is caused to operate. This adaptation of the parts or movements to one another provides the advantage that the catch member does not require to operate in opposition to the braking force and the head rail member can move without obstruction into the extreme position, so that a tight closure can be obtained by reason of the overlapping resilient plate 53. This plate is secured to the top of the head rail 9, and can also represent the front end of the roof material. At the front the guide rail di is widened out downwards, as disclosed by Fig. 8. Within the range of this widened portion 5i the runner d2, 43 can follow adownward movement of the front edge of the head rail enforced by the curve 55. The form and the arrangement of the roll 5t and the curve are shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 9. Upon commencement of the rearward movement `of the head rail 9 the plateV 53 is lifted bythe angular amount 54, so that the cover plate 53 is unable to rub against the side rails di or the roof portion 38 and thus possibly be damaged at the front.

The'brake rods and brake rolls are situated in the rear of the head rail 9, whereby the roll 55 may be situated more towards the front and sufficient space remains for an arcuate form of the roof aperture.

' .What we claim as new and desire to secure by said catch member and said braking means, said transmission means being operable by the handle and including an element to actuate the catch member and also including means for actuating the brake means, the means for actuating the brake means in the movement of the handle being normally free of handle influence, and actuated by the handle in a movement thereof which is smaller than that movement of the handle required for the actuation of the element controlling the catch member.

2. In a sliding roof for motor vehicles, a catch member for securing the roof in the closed position, braking means for securing the roof in the fully opened and in any intermediate position, a rotatable handle adapted upon its rotation to actuate both the said catch member as Well as the said braking means, and transmission means disposed between the said handle and the said catch member and said braking means, the said transmission means including means for producing an idle movement in association with the actuation of the said catch member for the purpose of bringing about a complete actuation of the said braking means by a rotation of the said handle in one direction only which is smaller than that required for the actuation of the said catch member.

3. In a sliding roof for motor vehicles, a catch member for securing the roof in the closed position, braking means for securing the roof in the fully opened and in any intermediate position, a rotatable handle adapted upon its rotation to actuate both the said catch member as Well as the said braking means, and toothed gearing including at least one toothed sector disposed between the said handle and the said catch member and said braking means for producing an idle movement in association with the actuation of the said catch member for the purpose of bringing about a complete actuation of the said braking means by a rotation of the said handle in one direction only which is smaller than that required for the actuation of the said catch member.

4. In a sliding roof for motor Vehicles, a catch member for securing the roof in the closed position, braking means for securing the roof in the fully opened and in any intermediate position, a

rotatable handle adapted upon its rotation to actuate'both the said catch member. as Well as the said braking means, a four-curve cam in association with the said handle, brake rods connected to the said braking means and bearing against the said cam, springs pressing the said rods against the said cams, and means for producing an idle movement in association With the actuation of the said catch member for the purpose of bringing about a complete actuation of the said braking means by Way of the said cam and the said brake rods by a rotation of the said handle in one direction only which is smaller than that required for the actuatien of the said catch member.

5. in a siiding roef for motor vehicles, a catch member ier securing the reci in the closed position, braking means for securing the roof in the fully apened and in any intermediate position, a rotatable handle adapted upon its rotation to actuate both the said catch member as Well as the said braking means, a studded disc in association with the said handle, brake rods connected to the said braking means, links connecting the said studded disc and the said brake rods, and means for producing an idle movement in association with the actuation oi the said catch member for the purpose of bringing about a complete actuation of the said braking means by Way of the said disc, the said brake rods and the said links by a rotation of the said handle in one direction only which is smaller than that required for the actuation of the said catch member.

6. In a sliding roof for motor vehicles, a catch member for securing the rooi= in the closed position, braking means for securing the roof in the fully opened and in any intermediate position, a handle rotatable in one direction only i rough 180 and adapted upon its rotation to actuate both the said catch member' as Weil as the said braking means, and transmission means disposed between the said handle and the said catch member and said braking means, the said handle by Way of the said transmission means actuating the said braking means only over the nal of its movement.

W'LHELM BAIER. WALTER BAIER. 

